Ligurian Farinata Savory Italian Pancake Or Flatbread Recipes

LIGURIAN FARINATA (SAVORY ITALIAN PANCAKE OR FLATBREAD)

Steps:

• In a large bowl, add the flour to the water, a little at a time, mixing and seasoning with salt until all of the flour and water has been absorbed; Add Optional Rosemary at this point.
• Let it rest for 4 hours (Or even better overnight).
• After this time, a layer of foam will have developed on the surface - Scrape it off with a spoon.
• Add the olive oil and remove the Rosemary (Optional) - Stir until all the Oil is absorbed.
• Pour into an olive oil well greased baking pan - the right one is called testo, made of "tinned copper" It should be about an eighth of an inch thick, perhaps a little more - a small deep dish Pizza pan will do (We used an iron skillet).
• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Remove from the oven when one of the corners (or the edge) starts to appear dark and has turned a golden color.
• Sprinkle plenty of pepper and eat immediately.
• ***It is of paramount importance that the pan is perfectly flat and level when in the oven, otherwise one of the corners will be thicker and will be undercooked when the opposite corner starts to darken. It tends to stick if you do not use enough oil. Also use parchment paper.

LIGURIAN CHICKPEA PANCAKE (FARINATA)

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Put the water in a bowl. Use a whisk to beat the chickpea flour into the water, stirring briskly to keep lumps from forming.
• Whisk in a healthy pinch of salt too, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and let it rest for at least 4 hours in a warm but not hot place.
• When the time is up, preheat your oven to 440 F / 220 C. Use a slotted spoon to remove the foam that will have formed on the surface of the batter, and then mix in half of the oil, using the other half to oil your pans.
• Pour the batter into the pans-it should be between 1/4 and 1/2 inch thick or 5 and 10 millimeters.
• Bake the farinata for 20 minutes, until it has firmed up and become golden. Slice it up and serve it hot, with salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!

FARINATA (ITALIAN FLATBREAD)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Brush a 9-inch tart pan with 2 tablespoons olive oil and place in the oven to warm up.
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add green onion and garlic. Cook and stir until softened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Mix chickpea flour with lukewarm water until smooth. Set aside for 20 minutes at room temperature.
• Skim foam from the top of chickpea-water mixture. Add remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Mix in onion-garlic mixture. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Add Gruyere cheese and mix well. Remove tart tin from oven and pour in chickpea mixture.
• Bake it in the preheated oven until crispy, about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and cut into triangles before serving.

ITALIAN PANCAKES

Steps:

• Sift 1 cup flour into bowl.
• Make a well in the centre and drop in well beaten eggs.
• Gradually add 1/2 cup milk, water and 1 tablespoon melted butter, beating all the time.
• Beat until smooth then allow to stand for 1 hour.
• Grease frypan very lightly and heat.
• Pour in batter for a fairly large pancake.
• When edges are brown turn over.
• Repeat with remaining pancake batter.
• Cook mince in oil with garlic, onion and carrot.
• Add pasta sauce and cook on low for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile in a separate saucepan melt 3 tablespoons of butter.
• Add 1/3 cup flour until bubbling.
• Add 2 cups of milk gradually, stirring continuously until thickened.
• Add cheese and set aside.
• Place pancake on plate and fill with meat sauce.
• Roll pancake up and use toothpick to hold in place.
• Repeat with remaining pancakes and mince sauce.
• Arrange on plate and spoon white sauce over pancakes.
• Serve with salad or chips or both.